To: FMCA Northwest Area Chapter Officers and all Northwest Area Members

From: Kathie Balogh, Northwest Area FMCA President

We have just completed our Business and Planning Meeting in Bonney Lake, WA. The minutes of the Business Meeting and the notes of the Planning Meeting will be on the website next week. Karen Pratt, our Northwest Area Secretary is working on these items and they will be posted when completed.

During the Business Meeting, we held the Northwest Area election and the results are:

Senior Vice President Don Schleuse elected for a 2 year term
Vice President Judie Lehenbauer reelected for a 2 year term
Vice President Dennis Martin elected for a 1 year term (to fill the unfinished term of Don Schleuse)
Secretary Karen Pratt elected for a 2 year term

During the Planning Meeting, the theme for the rally was chosen....our 2016 Northwest Area Rally will be All Aboard for Albany. We are hoping to incorporate a trolley into the theme. Albany has a wonderful trolley that the city provides for our members to take tours downtown during the beginning of our rally. The dates for the rally are June 23 –26, 2016....with volunteers and early arrivals arriving on Tuesday, June 21. Please watch for the information on the website beginning in October with updates continuing until the rally begins! Remember we need all the volunteers we can find!!! Check out the Captain's list next week and volunteer by emailing the Captain. If you have questions regarding the rally, Dennis Martin, Rally Master and Don Schleuse, Assistant Rally Master will be happy to help you......their contact information will be on the website with the Planning Meeting Notes.

In addition to taking care of the business and planning for the June Northwest Area Rally, we had a terrific time. Marje & Bud Fouts and their helpers prepared wonderful meals for everyone....Ham with all the trimmings and on Wednesday evening, it was Steak and all the trimmings. On Wednesday before the Planning Meeting began, we celebrated Arvin and Pat Spofford. As most of you know, Arvin has been on the Northwest Area Executive Board since 2006.....most of that time, he served as Senior Vice President. A few members spoke of things that had happened during Arvin's terms in office...lots of laughs, tears and memories were shared by all the attendees. Arvin and Pat have done so much for the Northwest Area, we could not stop thanking them...after dinner, we had a cake for dessert and gave Pat some beautiful white roses. Thanks again Arvin and Pat for everything you have done and continue to do for the Northwest Area of FMCA! Most of all, thank you for all the help you have given the previous Area Presidents and me! You are truly a true Gentleman!( and my Bylaw Guru!!)

The meetings and activities were enjoyed by all who attended. Thank you to all the attendees for your hard work and continued support! Your work and dedication keeps the Northwest Area #1!!!!

Safe and happy travelling!

Kathie

PS....please send your 2016 rally schedules, newsletters and any other information for the website to Northwest Area Secretary, Karen Pratt at karenkprtt@aol.com

Governance

The Northwest Area of FMCA is one of 10 geographic areas and represents a very large land mass with roughly 15,000 member families, stretching from the Oregon Border along the Pacific Ocean to the top of the Northwest Territories in Canada with 5 States, 2 Provinces and 2 Territories.

The Northwest Area has 41 Chapters. Chapters may span both Geography and Interests. Using Robert’s Rules of Order and conforming to the National FMCA Bylaws, the Area and each Chapter have By-Laws and Standing Rules to define officers, terms of office, method of election, executive board members, membership qualifications, rallies and all other aspects of how we govern ourselves as a Social Club.

The Executive Board of the NW Area is made up of eight officers. The top position in the Area is FMCA National Vice President – Northwest Area. Rules of how this job is filled are outlined in the FMCA Member and Volunteers Handbook. The office has a maximum of two, two-year terms with the election by all NW Area Chapter National Directors in the spring of every even year.

The other members of the NW Area Executive Board are Senior VP, Secretary, Treasurer, (and) three Vice Presidents and the Immediate Past FMCA National Vice President – Northwest Area. Contact Information for the current officers are shown on the Officers page.